My First Word Was Tree

Our first children’s book, written and illustrated by Jessica Pavelock, is told through the eyes of a father going on a walk in the forest with his young daughter and telling the story of how her grandma, a forester, helped plant and care for the trees around them. The book captures all the wonders they encounter – from snails and chipmunks to elk, salmon and other wildlife – and the importance of protecting the forest and all it provides for future generations.

My First Word Was Tree also invites readers to learn more about what it means to be a forester, which is someone who plants, cares for and helps manage a forest. Part of a forester’s job is to plan out where new seedlings should be planted and decide when it’s time to harvest and replant more trees. Foresters also keep a careful watch on all the plants and animals in the forest, and they make sure streams, rivers and other bodies of water are clean and healthy for all the living things that depend on them. Many foresters choose the profession because they love to work outside, and they get to spend most of their days out in the woods and enjoying nature.

Want to learn more? We encourage you to read about some of our foresters and what they love most about their jobs!

Meet Our Foresters

Sierra B.

• Forester, Oregon
• I’ve been a forester for 7 years.
• A typical day for me includes checking on our freshly planted trees and making plans to tend to their growing needs.
• My favorite part of my job is seeing our freshly planted trees break bud in the spring. This lets me know they are happy and growing.
• The most important skills for a forester to have include having knowledge of local plants, data management and problem-solving skills.
• My favorite thing to see in the forest are large old growth trees and stumps.

Cullen U.

• Harvesting Forester, Maine
• I've been a forester for 5 years.
• A typical day for me includes traveling to harvest sites and having discussions with contractors and operators. When I’m in the forest, I walk the units getting a lay of the land. Then we discuss safety and environmental best practices as well as which trees to remove and which areas to preserve.
• My favorite part of my job is being able to work in the outdoors. I like seeing the immediate results from harvest projects which means choosing which trees to harvest and then replanting the trees that are cut.
• The most important skills for a forester are the ability to think on your feet independently and know which resources to rely on.
• My favorite thing to see in the forest are moose!

Delani H.

• Forester, Oregon
• I’ve been a forester for 1 year.
• A typical day for me includes spending some morning time in the office followed by most of my day spent driving through the woods and checking on seedlings (baby trees).
• My favorite part of my job is getting to take my dog Lyra with me into the woods!
• The most important skills for a forester to have are time management and communication. This means being able to balance a lot of different projects both in the forest and in the office. I also need to be able to share information with many different types of people and groups through conversations and writing.
• My favorite things to see in the forest are all the wild animals: deer, elk, bear, owls, eagles and so many more.

Resources for Educators

Are you an educator interested in a classroom reading of My First Word Was Tree, a forest field trip or copies of the book?

If your school is located in one of our operating communities, our team can work with you to set up a potential reading of My First Word Was Tree, as well as a short presentation on working forests and what it’s like to be a forester (and other careers in the woods). Depending on location and availability, we may also be able to host your class on a field trip to one of our forests.

Please note that the book and in-class presentations are designed for grades kindergarten through second. Forest field trips are best suited for grades 3-12.